Immortal Paladin

[POV: Liang Na]

The Human Empire's Capital City, Heart, bustled with unusual excitement as the Embassy of the Hollowed World finally stood completed. Months of negotiations, countless inspections, and mountains of official documents had culminated in a structure unlike anything the Greater Universe had seen before.

Although alliances between powers were hardly uncommon, the concept of a permanent embassy established upon foreign soil remained almost unheard of. The Six Supremes traditionally resolved diplomatic affairs through the Celestial Circle, where rulers and their representatives convened as equals rather than maintaining permanent envoys within one another's domains. The Hollowed World had broken that tradition, and the Holy Emperor intended for the entire Greater Universe to witness it.

Workers hurried throughout the expansive compound beneath Liang Na's watchful gaze. Brilliant red carpets stretched across polished courtyards while ornate lanterns bearing both the Human Empire's imperial crest and the Hollowed World's radiant insignia were carefully suspended from carved pillars. Servants arranged tables filled with delicacies imported from countless worlds, musicians rehearsed in the distance, and cultivators discreetly activated decorative formations that bathed the estate in warm golden light.

Liang Na calmly surveyed every detail before speaking in a firm, commanding voice.

"Move faster. The floral arrangements belong along the eastern promenade, not the entrance. Double the security around the banquet hall, and inspect every serving dish before sunset. Nothing leaves this embassy unless I approve it. Tonight, our guests must leave believing the Hollowed World stands among the greatest powers in existence."

Her subordinates bowed immediately before scattering in every direction. No one questioned her orders. Every decoration, every servant, and every carefully orchestrated smile served two purposes. The grand opening banquet would establish the Hollowed World's image before the influential figures arriving from across the Greater Universe. More importantly, it would allow Liang Na, the Holy Emperor's Spy Master, to observe alliances, discover ambitions, identify hidden enemies, and collect information that could never be acquired through ordinary means.

Soft footsteps approached from behind.

"Lady Liang..." Xin Nu hesitated, clasping her hands together. "Are you truly certain His Holy Majesty wishes for me to become the ambassador? I... I fear I may not be capable of fulfilling such responsibilities. What if I fail him?"

Liang Na turned toward the woman standing beside her.

Xin Nu, known throughout the Origin Faith as Queen Heart among its Six Queens, possessed a beauty befitting her royal heritage. Before joining the Origin Faith, she had been one of the Human Emperor's countless daughters.

Despite carrying the bloodline of the Supreme Heart himself, she had never occupied a place of significance within the imperial family. Like hundreds of imperial princes and princesses, she had existed as another political asset waiting to be exchanged whenever circumstances demanded.

Such fate was what had befallen Xin Nu.

The Human Emperor had presented her to the Origin King as part of a far-reaching scheme crafted by the Six Supremes. Fate, however, had taken an unexpected turn. The Origin King fell before the Holy Emperor, and instead of annihilating the Origin Faith, the Holy Emperor accepted their surrender and placed them beneath his protection. Since then, the entire Origin Faith had served the Hollowed World.

Yet loyalty could not always erase the bonds of blood.

Xin Nu faithfully performed every duty assigned to her and sincerely desired the prosperity of the Origin Faith, which had become the only place she could truly call home. Nevertheless, deep within her heart lingered the instinctive devotion every child of the Supreme Heart inherited. Reason urged her to stand beside the Holy Emperor, but emotion still remembered the father who had ruled over her entire existence.

Liang Na understood that conflict better than anyone.

"It is perfectly fine," Liang Na replied with reassuring composure. "His Holy Majesty personally approved your appointment. Your identity as one of the Human Emperor's daughters makes you the ideal ambassador. We must appear friendly enough that the Human Empire lowers its guard around us. As long as they believe your loyalties remain divided, you will enjoy freedoms none of us could obtain."

She allowed herself a faint smile before adding evenly, "Besides, His Holy Majesty never sends anyone into danger without preparing for every possibility. Even if you were somehow manipulated into betraying us or deliberately chose to sabotage our mission, we already possess contingencies capable of minimizing every foreseeable loss."

Xin Nu lowered her head, neither comforted nor offended. She simply accepted the truth behind those words.

Everyone assigned to the embassy carried one of the Holy Emperor's Ezekiels through Divine Possession. Invisible Holy Spirits constantly accompanied each member of the diplomatic mission, silently invoking cleansing miracles that purified body, soul, and mind without interruption.

More importantly, those divine guardians formed an invisible shield against the terrifying influence of the Supreme Heart. Brainwashing, emotional manipulation, spiritual domination, and countless other techniques capable of enslaving ordinary cultivators would immediately trigger the Holy Emperor's protection.

Before departing for the Human Empire, Liang Na had personally received extensive instructions from Holy Emperor Da Wei himself. No battlefield frightened him more than diplomacy conducted beneath the gaze of the Supreme Heart.

"The Holy Emperor also sent someone else to support you," Liang Na continued. "Gao Fu will remain by your side throughout this assignment."

Standing quietly nearby, Gao Fu stepped forward and offered Xin Nu a respectful smile.

"I shall do everything within my power to assist you, Queen Sister."

Among the Six Queens, Gao Fu occupied a uniquely complicated position. She belonged to the Death Daughters born from the authority of the Supreme Death, making her origins every bit as burdensome as Xin Nu's own heritage. Although their circumstances differed, both women understood what it meant to carry expectations imposed by powers far greater than themselves.

Liang Na trusted Gao Fu completely. The woman had already proven her loyalty through both action and sacrifice, and few people possessed her calm judgment under pressure.

After confirming no one remained within earshot, Liang Na's expression gradually became serious.

"There is another reason I gathered both of you today. Shortly before our arrival, I received our first official assignment from His Holy Majesty."

Neither Xin Nu nor Gao Fu spoke.

Liang Na led them away from the bustling embassy grounds, descending through several concealed passages hidden beneath decorative stone flooring. They passed multiple layers of formations before reaching a reinforced chamber buried deep underground. Artificially transplanted dragon veins coursed through the surrounding walls, nourishing the defensive arrays with an endless stream of spiritual energy. Layers of illusion formations concealed the chamber's existence, while isolation arrays, anti-divination barriers, and numerous additional protections rendered outside observation virtually impossible.

Unlike the austere security surrounding it, the chamber itself felt surprisingly welcoming.

Soft carpets covered the polished stone floor, while comfortable chairs surrounded a sturdy wooden table already prepared with tea and refreshments. Shelves lined the walls, neatly stocked with preserved food, medicine, cultivation resources, emergency communication artifacts, maps, writing supplies, and sealed documents. Several reinforced storage chests rested against one wall, each protected by individual locking formations. Guest beds occupied adjoining alcoves should prolonged meetings become necessary, and warm spiritual lamps illuminated the room with a comforting golden glow rather than the harsh brilliance common within military bunkers.

The room had clearly been designed not merely as a safehouse, but as a place where trusted agents could think, plan, and survive should disaster strike above.

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After sealing the final entrance behind them, Liang Na faced the two queens.

"What we discuss beyond this point must never leave this chamber. Not through speech, writing, dreams, telepathy, or any other method. Even accidental disclosure is unacceptable. To guarantee absolute secrecy, both of you will make a Binding Vow alongside me."

Neither woman objected.

The three cultivators simultaneously formed hand seals and recited the ancient oath. Heavenly laws descended upon the chamber as invisible authority acknowledged their promises.

Brilliant runes circled each cultivator before condensing into intricate markings that slowly branded themselves upon their wrists. The symbols glowed briefly before fading beneath their skin, forever binding the secrets spoken within that room to their souls.

“Thank you for your cooperation,” Liang Na said.

The embassy itself embodied the pinnacle of the Hollowed World's craftsmanship. Every beam, wall, foundation, and corridor had been designed and assembled by an Asura Eye using only the rarest materials available across countless worlds.

Hollowed World technology had further refined every aspect of the structure until the entire estate resembled less an embassy and more an impregnable fortress. Countless defensive formations were woven into its framework, hidden mechanisms lay dormant beneath its floors, and surveillance arrays quietly monitored every inch of the compound. Yet all of those marvels paled before the embassy's true safeguard.

Its self-destruction mechanism.

The device alone represented technology perhaps twice as advanced as the rest of the embassy combined. Should the compound ever face inevitable capture, every secret would disappear in a single instant.

The Holy Emperor had made one order absolutely clear. Under no circumstance could the technology behind artificially transplanting dragon veins fall into foreign hands. That singular breakthrough formed the foundation of the Hollowed World's warp technology, allowing entire armies and civilizations to cross unimaginable distances. Losing such knowledge to the Human Empire would threaten everything they had built.

Liang Na reached into her pocket dimension and retrieved six neatly organized dossiers. One after another, she spread them across the table before Xin Nu and Gao Fu.

Each file contained a portrait, physical description, known habits, cultivation estimates, and every fragment of intelligence the Hollowed World's spies had managed to collect.

Xin Nu slowly examined each face.

"...They're all Father's children," she murmured quietly. "Every one of them... except this man."

Her finger rested upon the portrait of a bald cultivator clothed in simple monk robes.

Liang Na nodded.

"He is a monk."

Both queens lifted their eyes toward her.

"The Human Emperor personally plucked him from the Hollowed World many years ago. Since then, he has raised him in secret while having him cultivate divine techniques. According to His Holy Majesty's assessment, the Supreme Heart has likely been preparing him as one of his trump cards for the coming contest."

Her finger lightly tapped each dossier.

"These six individuals are now our highest-priority surveillance targets. Learn everything about them. Their names, personalities, relationships, cultivation paths, habits, ambitions, weaknesses, preferences, daily routines, and anything else that appears insignificant. Even the smallest detail could become invaluable to His Holy Majesty."

She paused before adding gravely,

"This assignment will be exceptionally difficult. We don't even know the true names of several of these individuals. Simply discovering something as basic as their identities would already be considered a significant achievement."

The discussion continued for hours.

Xin Nu searched her memories, recalling every gathering she had attended within the imperial palace. She described the personalities of her brothers and sisters, which factions supported them, who preferred martial cultivation, who favored politics, and which members of the imperial family rarely appeared before outsiders. Every recollection became another note upon Liang Na's growing collection of intelligence.

By the time the final report had been organized, the sun had begun its slow descent beyond the capital.

The grand banquet was about to begin.

After their lengthy discussion, much of Xin Nu's earlier anxiety had disappeared. Understanding her responsibilities gave her confidence, and having Liang Na and Gao Fu supporting her eased the burden she carried upon her shoulders.

Soon, the embassy welcomed its first distinguished guests.

Representatives from countless worlds arrived through magnificent flying artifacts, teleportation formations, and escorted convoys. Nobles, sect masters, merchants, scholars, generals, diplomats, and wandering experts flowed into the embassy's lavish reception hall beneath crystal chandeliers and brilliant spirit lamps.

At the center of the hall stood Xin Nu.

Dressed in elegant ceremonial robes bearing both the insignia of the Origin Faith and the Hollowed World, she gracefully addressed the assembled guests.

"Honored guests, distinguished representatives, and esteemed friends from every corner of the Greater Universe, I welcome you all to the Embassy of the Hollowed World. This embassy stands not merely as stone and steel, but as a bridge between civilizations. May tonight mark the beginning of friendships founded upon mutual respect, honest dialogue, and peaceful cooperation. On behalf of His Holy Majesty, the Holy Emperor, and the people of the Hollowed World, thank you for honoring us with your presence. Please enjoy the evening."

Polite applause spread throughout the hall.

Music resumed as servants circulated with exquisite cuisine and priceless wines.

Liang Na, meanwhile, remained exactly where she preferred.

Invisible.

Her attire intentionally lacked extravagance. Wearing the plain uniform of an ordinary bodyguard, she blended naturally among the embassy's security personnel while silently observing every conversation taking place within the hall.

Her eyes continuously searched for the six faces from the dossiers.

None appeared.

Instead, she found herself surrounded by figures from nearly every race within the Greater Universe. Towering demons discussed trade with heavenly beings. Asuras laughed alongside dragon clans. Spiritual beasts wearing human forms sampled foreign delicacies while giants conversed with immortals over ancient cultivation techniques.

The banquet had become a gathering of worlds.

Unfortunately, none of the people she sought had attended.

"May I have this dance?"

The unexpected voice emerged beside her.

Liang Na calmly turned.

Standing there was an exceptionally handsome young man possessing long raven-black hair tied neatly behind his back. His austere robes appeared understated at first glance, yet every thread shimmered with subtle divine craftsmanship. His relaxed smile carried an indescribable confidence.

He bowed elegantly.

"My name is Loki, of the Greater Asura Realm."

His golden eyes met hers.

"I believe I possess information you would very much like to hear."

Liang Na maintained her composed expression.

"I appreciate the offer," she replied politely. "However, I am currently on duty. My responsibility is to guard this embassy. If you possess information relevant to us, you may simply tell me."

Loki chuckled softly.

"How could that possibly be fair? Between the two of us, you require that information far more desperately than I do." His smile widened ever so slightly. "After all... the contest between the Supreme Heart and the Supreme Bearer draws ever closer, does it not?"

Liang Na's pupils narrowed almost imperceptibly.

Very few individuals knew about that contest.

The Holy Emperor had classified nearly every detail surrounding it.

Yet this stranger casually spoke of it.

Loki gracefully lowered himself onto one knee before extending his hand toward her.

"My lady," he said with theatrical elegance, "the stars themselves would surely envy the privilege of sharing even a single dance with someone whose beauty rivals the moon. Grant this humble traveler but one song, and I shall repay your generosity with truths hidden even from the heavens."

Before Liang Na could formulate a response, a familiar voice echoed gently within her consciousness.

"Take his hand," the Holy Emperor said through the Ezekiel residing within her soul. "But remain vigilant. The gods of the Greater Asura Realm share many similarities with mythologies from Earth. If this truly is Loki, then he is known as the God of Mischief. Lies, deception, manipulation, and trickery are his greatest talents. Assume every word carries two meanings and every smile conceals another scheme."

Liang Na silently acknowledged the warning.

She accepted Loki's offered hand.

Golden quintessence immediately erupted from the hidden Ezekiel.

A gentle flash of divine radiance enveloped her entire body.

When the light faded, her simple bodyguard attire had transformed into an elegant evening gown woven from flowing white and silver fabrics. The dress revealed her shoulders and part of her back while remaining dignified enough for a formal banquet. Intricate golden embroidery shimmered across the fabric as divine light danced like living stars around its hem.

Loki's smile noticeably brightened.

"My..."

His eyes lingered upon her for only a brief moment.

"You are even more breathtaking than I imagined."

He led her onto the ballroom floor.

The orchestra instinctively adjusted its rhythm as the two began dancing.

Liang Na matched every step flawlessly.

"What information do you possess?" she asked without wasting time.

Loki sighed dramatically.

"You truly are impatient." He laughed quietly. "Patience is generally considered a virtue, especially among ladies."

Liang Na met his gaze without blinking.

"If this is merely a trick," she answered evenly, "I assure you that you will come to regret it."

Loki merely smiled.

They continued dancing.

One song became another.

Their synchronized movements gradually drew the attention of every guest until the entire banquet hall watched them. Even those engaged in conversation slowly turned toward the pair occupying the center of the ballroom.

Only then did Loki finally lean closer.

His lips stopped beside her ear.

"The contest," he whispered softly, "is not what it appears to be."

Liang Na listened carefully.

"It is a trap."

She frowned.

"That is incredibly vague."

"It is your decision whether those words possess value," Loki replied lightly. "If fortune favors you, perhaps I would be willing to reveal considerably more."

He leaned even closer, his voice dropping into an unmistakably flirtatious whisper.

"My lady, should you consent to grace my bed this night, I suspect my tongue would become most delightfully loose. In the warmth of our shared intimacy, I may well reveal everything you wish to know... and perhaps a few things you have not yet thought to ask."

The music stopped.

Liang Na released his hand.

With a sharp push against his chest, she forced him backward before delivering a crisp slap across his cheek.

The sound echoed throughout the silent banquet hall.

Every conversation ceased.

Dozens of startled eyes turned toward them.

Loki slowly touched the reddening mark upon his face.

Then, much to everyone's surprise, he threw back his head and laughed.

"Feisty," he said with unmistakable amusement. "I like that."